11 Months

Here's what's new with girl baby:
- She is getting her first tooth! After she spent her entire bath chewing on a cup a few days ago, I decided to feel her gums and one had just broken through!
- Sister is still eating mostly formula and baby food, but she is starting to get the hang of eating little bits of solid things. She loves to try eating whatever we are eating, so we are starting to let her have little bits of bread and such.
- She learned how to roll from her back to her belly, and it just starting to learn that she can roll to get places. Sometimes she couldn't care less about being mobile, but every once and a while she will move around the living room floor.
- She is pulling up like crazy on our hands, and occasionally pulls up on other things (like her crib). But if I stand her up next to the coffee table, she will stay standing there for a while. She LOVES to stand up, and is slowly getting her sea legs.
- She had her first dip in the pool, for those who hadn't heard. She didn't love it at first, but me thinks she will be quite the water baby.
- She also experienced her first baseball game! We went to the local minor league stadium for a friends birthday, and Phoenix loved it (especially eating the sand/grass).
- She has developed a little bit of separation anxiety ... and I not so secretly love that she needs me. Don't worry, I want her to be independent and we will definitely continue to foster her independence. But I will enjoy the sweet parts of this stage ...

Here are pictures from the last month:

The fam at the March for Babies

At 12Stone on a Weds morn (after I had been doing childcare for small groups)

Bathing Beauty

Drying off with Daddy

Look at that leg

This might be my favorite picture of her ... ever.

Getting a better view

Eating banana bread

No arms! (She flails them whenever she's excited)

Only one more month till her birthday -- don't worry, the plans are in full swing :)

10 Months

Can't believe we are closing in on a year with this girl!

Sorry it's blurry ... still cute though

The bad news: I haven't taken any camera pictures of Phoenix in the last month. Now, instagram? Yes. But there was not a single photo on the camera between 9 and 10 month pictures. The camera continues to frustrate me, so most of the time I just don't bother with it.

The very bad news: Josh's computer failed, and now I can't figure out how to upload videos. Too bad for you, cuz we have some winners. I will work on it, though, and I promise to post them before we hit 11 months.

Here is where she is at:
- We aren't sure of her current weight. When she was getting her monthly RSV vaccine, she was regularly weighed. Our insurance didn't approve us for any more RSV shots (since the season ends this month), so she hasn't been weighed in a month or so. But I don't think she has gained much ... she is probably right around 21 lbs. [[Side note -- pray that she doesn't get exposed to RSV this month! Her weight is solid and her lungs are strong, but we would hate to have her end up back in the hospital!]]
- Her favorite toys these days are: straws, plastic bags, paper and foil. Now, before you call DHS on me, these are all very extremely supervised (especially plastic bags). But give my girl some trash, and she will be happy for days. As far as real toys go, she is loving her plastic phone and beach balls.
- She drools NON STOP. In fact, Josh was letting her play with his phone, and she ruined it with all her drool. Lesson learned the hard way. But, despite all that drool, we have not seen any sign of teeth.
- She is still totally uninterested in crawling. The second she is on her belly, she flips over. Recently, we have started some crawling training when I put her on the floor in between my legs (so she can't flip over) and I try and tempt her with a toy. She could care less. She does scootch backwards, but I don't think it is intentional.
- We have been LOVING Gymboree classes. My brother got Phoenix a groupon for a month of classes, and we both can't get enough. I learn more about her development, get ideas for toys/activities, meet other mommies and have 45 min of focused quality time with her. She loves the whole thing, but is especially enthralled with the other babies. She is definitely going to be a socialite. Fortunately, we found a way to keep going on the cheap! Thank you Jesus!
- She is still rocking 4 meals a day, three of which include fruit/veggies/cereal. We tried introducing some puffs, and she didn't seem too fond of them (especially after choking on her third). So she is still just eating purees, though I occasionally let her taste my food, or give her some fruit or bread to gnaw on. She LOVES to gum strawberries ... I just have to keep an eye on her, because she tries to shove the whole thing in her mouth. 
- She has started playing with her voice, which means she has a lot of fun shrieking and screaming for no reason. It's cute ... for awhile.
- She is a dancing machine. Turn on some music, show her your moves, and she will follow suit.
- She is all set for summer. We are geared up with swim diapers, a suit, a nap tent, sunscreen and a hat. Bring on the beautiful weather!
- We are finally weaning her off her nap swaddle. It went horribly the first time, but she seems to have adjusted. So thankful to pack those swaddle sacks away. Watch out, pacifier. You are next.
- She continues to be such an easy baby! She is the best little buddy for running errands, going on walks, and just hanging out. She is tons of fun, and we so enjoy her presence. Josh and I are just a little bit obsessed ....

And here are pictures of my lovely girl from today!

Wouldn't open her eyes when we tried outside (for all the good light)

 

chewing on the camera strap while I'm trying to take pictures

Best picture I could get with Darla (Phoenix won't leave her on the floor)

My drool bug

Couldn't resist playing with her flower

Model baby

Half smile

She has my heart

Stroking Darla

Bewildered baby

My sunshine girl

Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow ... Josh and I will be attending an information meeting at a local adoption agency. We are going primarily for more information, but who knows where it could lead. We want to honor God's will and timing, so pray for clarity for us as we think about our future family.

Love you all!

9 Months!

It's that time again!

I know the 11th was on Sunday ... sorry to keep you waiting, but I can't upload pictures on my computer. Josh has been MIA because of work, so today was the first chance I've had to share these with you.

Updates:
- Phoenix weighs just over 20 pounds. Sister still has plenty of lovely chunk, but her weight gain has slowed a little ... which is good!
- SHE ROLLS OVER! She actually did this for the first time with Joy, my mother in law. Was a I jealous? Just a tiny bit ... but mostly excited that she got to witness a milestone with her own eyes. Many of you have probably seen the video on my facebook, but here it is anyway.

- She has pretty much mastered the sitting up thing ... she will still occasionally tip over, but it's not the norm anymore.
- We made the decision to get her on a more predictable schedule, which turned out to be a pretty easy ... Josh and I aren't sure why we didn't do it sooner. She now eats at 8 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM and has a night-time bottle before bed at 8 PM. It is SO MUCH EASIER to plan our days with her new predictable rhythm. Naps are predictable now too ... holla!
- She still LOVES kisses, especially on her hands and feet. I think she knows that kisses = love.
- She got lots of good family time this month. The two of us traveled to Colorado in the middle of February so Phoenix could meet my Grandma Ethel (Phoenix's middle name comes from her). While there, she got lots of quality time from her Aunt Tudy (my sister Amy) and my best friend Lindsay. She also got to see Skitch and Doobie (Josh's parents) at the end of February, and my mom was just here as well. She is one well-loved little lady! Here are some pictures from the Colorado trip:

Reading with her great Grandma

Lindsay and my sister after her surgery (Love you Tudy!)

Me and my drool bug

Hot mess reachin' for the camera

Phoenix on Lindsay's hip, Lindsay on Jefff's hip

This is what happens when you don't have snow boots. Hot, I know.

Snow sitter

And here are the rest from her 9 month shoot. Not sure why the quality sucks ... oh well. I think the subject matter makes up for it.

Gymnast

Happiest baby on the block

Smirk

Scrunchy face

 

 

 

Karate kid

She refused a picture with Darla laying next to her

Love her legs!

And, to end the post, here are a couple videos. If this doesn't fill your Phoenix tank, check out our youtube channel for more!
FYI ... the last video is shot weird. I apologize. But watch it anyway, because she is little miss personality.

8 Month Update

The money shot from our photo shoot today:

Even though she was sick, she still gave me some smiles to work with.
She woke up several times last night, just wanting to be held. And that is what I did most of the day today ... which, I will admit, was kind of nice. We aren't worried about it being anything serious (she has gotten all her routine RSV shots), but I would appreciate prayers for healing! Phoenix and I are making the pilgrimage to Colorado on Tuesday to visit my grandma, sister, and best friend -- I would hate to have her feeling bad while we travel.


Updates:
- Our not-so-small baby now weighs in at 19 lbs. You can imagine how awesome my arm muscles are at this point from carrying her around ... she is a serious workout. But her lovely lady lumps are awesome. Check out my favorite things about having a "hearty" baby:

The wrist version of a cankle

Baby rolls

- Phoenix has officially found her feet, and they always seem to float up to where she can reach them.

- She can almost sit up by herself, as evidenced by these pictures:

She hasn't quite mastered it though, and sometimes she sways and then falls over:

 

- Phoenix is eating a lot of solids, and currently enjoys apples, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, pears and prunes. She is not a huge fan of anything green, though. She is her daddy's girl.
Here are some pictures of her eating:

Infatuated

- She is learning cause and effect, mostly through dropping her toys (and everything else) on the floor ... not my favorite developmental milestone.
- She will always give me a big smile when I kiss her hands or toes. Which happens a lot.
- She still has yet to roll over. She may never get the hang of that ... maybe she will someday be the only 40 year-old to struggle with the rolling-over skill. Hopefully not. Josh and I also think she may never crawl, as she hates being on her belly. But she LOVES to stand (with help, of course), so she may just skip crawling and work on walking instead.
- She continues to be very engaged and observant. She is very aware of her surroundings, which is fun except when I am trying to get her to focus on eating.
- She is the easiest baby ... ever. I have started doing some childcare for church small groups once a week, and it confirmed what I already knew in my heart. Phoenix is the most chill baby ever. Our next one will probably be a hellion ...

That's all I can think of right now ... I am sick as well, and sleep-deprived.
So here are some random pictures from the last month, and the rest of today's photo shoot.

Her preemie diaper (which was too big at birth) in front of her size 3 diapers

She ALWAYS migrates to this corner of the bed during the night

Morning baby

Taylor lovin' on my girl

Casey came to visit and spoke sweet Italian words to Phoenix

Bundled for a walk with mommy

Beauty gaze

Going to be too big for this blanket soon

Sizing up darla

Hugs

Dwarfing Darla

Talking to me while I photograph

Love this 8 month old!

One of her favorite tricks

And now, the video you have all been waiting for. The infamous poop noise (haha ... I am such a mom. I am blogging about my kid's poop).
She stops whatever she is doing (in this case, she was eating) to concentrate on the task at hand. It's hilarious.

And a random funny video from tonight to close out the post. Much love!